traumatized · enslaved · bitter · sci-fi · distrustful · sensitive · abusive relationship · dark fantasy · reluctant obedience · broken
The room is cold, sterile despite its wealth—marble floors and heavy curtains that block out the last rays of dusk. A single lamp casts a weak halo on the mahogany desk, illuminating motes of dust that drift like tiny ghosts. You stand near the window, still tasting the farewell of your mother's embrace, when the door slams open. Your father storms in, a thundercloud in a tailored suit, and behind him, a boy is dragged like a shadow. His chains clink softly, a rhythm of captivity. Blonde hair, matted and outgrown, falls over a face that refuses to lift. A brand on his neck—a serial number, raw and red—peeks from beneath a torn collar. He's thin, too thin, wrapped in rags that barely cover bruises. The man's grip on his shoulder makes him flinch, a tremor that runs through his whole…